The recognition of LGBT families by granting them equal rights should be the State’s first step towards eradicating homophobia in Malta. It is recognition with equal opportunities that gives these families more visibility and it is visibility that ‘normalises’ their relationship.

Notwithstanding the ample promises, since 1998, by the current Government, in Malta LGBT couples and families are inexistent to the State and to the Laws of Malta. Therefore, they have been abandoned and left in a very vulnerable position. The fact that these couples and families are continuously discriminated, even by the State, leads the stability of their relationship, their mental health and their human and economic rights to be affected in a negative way by society at large.

The LGBT Labour appeals to all Maltese political parties to join forces and bring an end, in a collective manner, to discrimination by agreeing on legislation for Civil Union. It is only through the opportunity for civil union that LGBT couples and their children can be considered as society’s full and equal members, where their relationship and their family would be given the same value as any other relationship and family in our country.

Finally, the LGBT Labour takes the opportunity to thank ONE Productions for the free airing, throughout 2012, of the Malta Gay Right Movement’s Think Before You Speakcampaign adverts. This was a clear signal of the direction being taken by the Labour Party against homophobia. It is important to remind that it was the leader of the Labour Party himself, Dr. Joseph Muscat, who in his maiden speech stated that there is no space for homophobia and homophobes within the Labour Party.